Rajeev Shukla Archives

BCCI chief demands Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi: sources

DUBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Rajeev Shukla has asked Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi to hand over the Asia Cup trophy, sources told Ary News on Wednesday.

The development came during the ACC meeting held in Dubai, chaired by ACC President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

As per the sources, the Asia Cup trophy was not on the agenda of the recent ACC meeting, but Shukla insisted on receiving it.

In reply, Mohsin Naqvi reportedly said that if the Indian cricket team wanted the trophy, Suryakumar Yadav should personally visit his office to collect it.

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For context, the Asia Cup 2025 final ended with a Trophy fiasco as the Indian cricket team refused to accept the silverware from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The presentation ceremony started an hour late, reportedly due to India’s refusal, stemming from the fact that the trophy was to be handed over by the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.

The stage for the post-match ceremony was not set for an extended period. At last, the stage was set up with Mohsin Naqvi and other dignitaries taking their place.

However, the ceremony ended without the silverware, as the Indian team celebrated the moment by mimicking the trophy.

READ: Sri Lanka limit India to 269 in ICC Women’s World Cup opener

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla opens up on Pakistan-India bilateral series

LAHORE: Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), shared his views on the bilateral cricket series between the Pakistan and India teams during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

While speaking to the media during the match between New Zealand and South Africa, Shukla emphasized that BCCI’s policy regarding bilateral series remains unchanged and that the Indian government will decide whether the team will travel to Pakistan.

“India and Pakistan will only play bilateral series in their respective countries, not at neutral venues. It is Indian board’s policy that bilateral series will be played on home soils,” he said.

Rajeev Shukla further praised Pakistan’s arrangement for the ICC Champions Trophy and expressed his delight at visiting Lahore.

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“It feels great to be here. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made very good arrangements to organize the tournament,” he remarked.

Shukla mentioned that the current status of the Asia Cup remains unchanged while admitting that different countries want to host India-Pakistan matches and they have offered to stage them.

“World wants to host India-Pakistan matches. Multiple countries had offered to stage them,” said Shukla.

It is important to note that Pakistan and India last played a bilateral series in 2012-2013. During the successful tour of India, green shirts won the ODI series 2-1, while the T20I series ended in a 1-1 tie.

For the unversed, the full implications of the India’s refusal to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan were laid bare on Sunday as Australia and South Africa waited to find out whether they will play their semi-finals in Lahore or Dubai this week.

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Political tensions between the neighbours mean India has not played a cricket match in Pakistan since 2008 and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were not inclined to change the policy for the Champions Trophy, citing government advice over security issues.

As a result, although the rest of the tournament is taking place in Pakistan, India played all their group matches in Dubai and will play the final on 9 March at the Dubai International cricket stadium.

Read: Champions Trophy: Williamson, Ravindra’s centuries power NZ to 362 against SA in semi-final

BCCI VP clears air on possibility of India’s tour to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has broken his silence over the possibility of India’s cricket team touring Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The eight-team event is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February to March, however, India’s participation in the tournament is uncertain as the BCCI seeks the government’s approval to visit the country.

Remember, reports emerged in Indian media, citing a source from the BCCI, that the Indian team will not be visiting Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

However, the Chief Executive of the ICC Geoff Allardice confirmed last month that the Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in Pakistan, as scheduled, dismissing any speculation about the event being relocated to a different country.

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Rajeev Shukla, in a conversation with an Indian news channel, mentioned that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently awaiting the government’s approval. As of now, no decision has been made regarding the tour of Pakistan.

“No decision has been taken (yet). However, our policy is that for international tours, we always seek permission from the government,” Shukla clarified.

“It’s up to the government to decide whether our team should go to any country or our team should not go to any country,” the BCCI VP added. “In this case (also), whatever the government will decide, we will abide by that.”

It is worth noting that India has not travelled to Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 due to the long-standing political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

In contrast, Pakistan has made four trips to India in the last 16 years. Their most recent visit was last year for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.

READ: Pakistan legend calls Babar Azam-Virat Kohli comparison ‘pointless’

BCCI brushes aside reports of India not travelling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla denied the reports suggesting that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Earlier this week, Indian media reported, citing a source from the BCCI, that the Indian team will not be visiting Pakistan for the upcoming ICC event.

Reports further claimed that the board is planning to formally propose Dubai and Sri Lanka as potential venues for hosting India’s matches.

Meanwhile, BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla, during a telephonic conversation with an Indian media outlet, asserted that the cricketing body has not issued any information regarding their team’s participation in Champions Trophy 2025.

“We do not know which source gave such information. BCCI has not put out any official information regarding this,” Shukla told ThePrint over the phone.

Last year, India refused to travel to Pakistan to participate in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023. As a result, the continental event was held in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka stepping in as a co-host.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) submitted the schedule for the Champions Trophy to the ICC last week, which was reportedly approved by all the participating countries except India.

The BCCI has emphasized that India’s visit to Pakistan is contingent upon receiving permission from the government.

“In the case of the Champions Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India tells us to do,” BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla said in May.

“We send our team only when the Government of India gives us permission. So we will go according to the decision of the Indian government.”

It is worth noting that India has not travelled to Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 due to the long-standing political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

In contrast, Pakistan has made four trips to India in the last 16 years. Their most recent visit was last year for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.

READ: India set up World Championship of Legends Final with Pakistan

BCCI VP Shukla breaks silence on India’s tour to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

The Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Monday, provided a major update on India men’s cricket team tour to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Speaking to ANI, Shukla stated that the BCCI will follow the instructions of the federal government on sending the Indian team to Pakistan for the ICC event.

“In the case of the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India will tell us to do,” revealed Shukla.

“We send our team only when the Government of India gives us permission. So, we will go according to the decision of the Indian government,” he added.

It is worth mentioning here that India refused to tour Pakistan for last year’s Asia Cup and the continental event was thus, held in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka emerging as a co-host.

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As per the hybrid model, Pakistan could host only four matches while the rest of the games were played in Sri Lanka including the final.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has raced up the preparations to host the Champions Trophy 2025 and shortlisted three venues — Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi in the initial draft schedule, proposed to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Sources further claimed that the cricket board also proposed to host all the India matches at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, also poised to host the final, to minimise the team’s travelling as a security measure.

The eight-team tournament is slated to be held in February next year in Pakistan and is likely to span for over two weeks.

The Champions Trophy 2025 will feature India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh while hosts Pakistan will defend the title.

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‘Pakistan is the host of the Asia Cup, it was our duty to come here,’ Rajeev Shukla

LAHORE: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Roger Binny and Vice-president Rajeev Shukla shared their feelings of camaraderie with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the BCCI delegation reached here for their historic two-day visit to Pakistan today.

The BCCI delegation visited Pakistan for the first time since 2008 and was welcomed by the Chairman of the PCB Management Committee Zaka Ashraf.

“Pakistan is the host of the Asia Cup 2023, it was our duty to come here,” Rajeev Shukla said while talking to the media. “PCB and BCCI share very good cricketing relations, we will take good memories from this trip,”

“There are interesting matches going on in Asia Cup 2023, enjoy the ongoing tournament for now, we will talk about the rest of the things later,” he further added.

“It is my first visit to Pakistan since 2005, I feel good to be here and will take great memories with me,” BCCI President Roger Binny shared.

Meanwhile, Zaka Ashraf showed gratitude for the Indian delegation visiting Pakistan.

“We are thankful to the BCCI delegation for visiting Pakistan on our invitation, this visit will further improve the relationship between PCB and BCCI,” said Zaka Ashraf.

The BCCI delegation will discuss matters of mutual interest with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials before watching the Asia Cup 2023 fixture between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan at the picturesque Gaddafi Stadium.

The delegation will also be attending an official dinner at the Governor’s House.

READ: ICC Men’s World Cup trophy to reach Pakistan on September 5